Estimation of gas-hydrate concentrations from amplitude variation with offset (AVO) analysis of gas-hydrate BSRs in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea

동해 울릉분지 해저 모방 반사면의 AVO 분석을 통한 가스하이드레이트 농도 예측

The bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) is the most commonly observed seismic indicator of gas hydrate in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea. We processed ten representative seismic reflection profiles, selected from a large data set, for amplitude variation with offset (AVO) analysis of the BSR to estimate gas-hydrate concentrations. First, BSRs were divided into five groups based on their seismic amplitudes and associated sediment types: (1) very high-amplitude BSRs in turbidite/hemipelagic sediments, (2) high-amplitude BSRs in debris-flow deposits, (3) moderate-amplitude BSRs in turbidite/hemipelagic sediments, (4) very low-amplitude BSRs in debris-flow deposits, and (5) very low-amplitude BSRs in seismic chimneys. The AVO responses of the group 1 and 3 BSRs are characterized by a rapid decrease and a relatively slow decrease in magnitude with offset, respectively. The AVO response of the group 2 BSR is characterized by a relatively slow increase in magnitude with offset. The AVO responses of the groups 4 and 5 BSRs are characterized by a flat AVO with very small zero-offset amplitude. Theoretical AVO curves, based on the three-phase Biot theory, suggest that the group 1 and 3 BSRs may be related to high (> 40%) concentrations of gas hydrate whereas the group 2 BSRs may indicate low (< 20%) concentrations of gas hydrate. The AVO responses of the group 4 and 5 BSRs cannot be compared with the theoretical models because of their very small zero-offset amplitudes. The comparison of the AVO response of the BSR at the UBGH-04 well with theoretical models suggests about 10% gas-hydrate concentration above the gas-hydrate stability zone.